Photographic apparatus



Nov. 19 .92 B. A. PROCT OR 1,736,750

PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS Original Filed Sept. 8, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR. BARTON ALLEN HROCTOR MZM A TTORNEYS.

Nov- 1 929- B. A. PROCTOR PHQTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS Original Filed Sept. 8, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 1N1 TOR. BARTON ALLEN PROC TOR m /z m,

A TTORNEYS.

NOV. 19, 1 929, a PROCTOR 1,736,750

PHOTOGRAPHIG BPFARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR. BARTON ALLEN PROCTOR A TTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 19, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BARTON ALLEN I PROCTOB, OF PELHAM MANOR, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO WALDO G.

. MORSE, TRUSTEE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

rno'roonarmc APPARATUS Original application filed September 8, 1925, Serial No. 54,919. Divided and this application filed February 28, 1929. Serial Ito. 343,301.

The present invention relates broadly to the art of photography, and more particu larly to improvements in apparatus adapted for the taking and projection of pictures either as so called still or motion pictures.

Heretofore in the art to which the invention relates it has been customary to thread films into position by hand, this operation being extremely difficult not only by reason of the sensitiveness of the films being handled and the different parts through or around which they have had to be threaded, but also because of the operating conditions usually obtaining where such apparatus is used. The present invention has for one of its objects the provision of an improved apparatus by means of which the threading operation is greatly expedited, and if desired, performed entirely without the necessity of the operator actually touching the film. I

The present application is a division of my co-pending application, Serial No. 54,910, filed September 8, 1925.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved form of openable gate, means adapted bodily to remove the film from the feeding member cooperating with such gate, and to shield it from such member, and a simple 'andeffective control mechanism for such gate and means, such control preferably embodying a single operating button or knob. Another object is to provide means adapted bodily to position the film in operative relation to the feeding member, and con trol mechanism for such film positioning means, film removing and shielding means, and gate, whereby such cooperation between each of the same as is necessary or desirable is secured. A further object is to provide guiding means which effectively cooperate with the various elements associated with the gate, preferably so as to facilitate the positioning of a film in relation to such elements by a single bodily manual movement thereof lateral to its path of travel through the gate and its removal from such relation by a corresponding manual movement.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus of the general character hereinbefore referred to which is adapted for use either with films in which both ends are permanently secured to different carriers, or in which only one end is secured to a carrier, or of the character in which the film is loosely wound around carriers.

Other and further advantages both of construction and operation will be apparent from the following specification and drawings constituting a part thereof. In these drawings there are shown for purposes of illustration only certain preferred embodiments of the present invention, it being understood that the drawings do not define the limits of my invention as changes in the construction and operation disclosed therein may be made without departing either from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the broader claiins.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a right side elevation of the gate and associated parts in film feeding position;

Figure 2 is a left side elevation showing actuating parts in film threading position;

Figure 3 is a partial right side elevation broken away to show actuating parts in film threading position;

Figure 4 is a view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure l;

Figure 4 is a detail view of the gate rod crank lever and associated parts;

Figure 5 is a partial bottom plan view showing actuating levers in a film feeding position;

Figure 6 is a partial bottom plan view showing actuating levers in film threading or changing position;

Figure 7 is a detail view showing segment and pinion for actuating film-stripping shield;

Figure 8 is a front view of the same.

Preferably mounted on the front side of the frame F is a gate section 1 secured in any desired manner as by screws 2 against movement relatively to the frame. This section is preferably formed with an aperture 3 through which light may be projected as well undcrstod in the art, and with a film guiding depression 4 extending lengthwise of the section, and intersecting the opening 3, for the travel ,of the film. Cooperating with the section 1 is a relatively movable section 5 preferably guided by a pin 6 projecting outwardly from the section 1,' and secured to one end of a gate opening rod 7 slidable through a suitto the left as viewed in Figure 1, it will be.

effective for moving the section 5 away from the section 1 to permit the removal of a film and the insertion of a new film, while movement in the opposite direction will bring the sections into codperative relationship.

For efi'ecting the desired intermittent feeding motion of a film in position in the gate, there ma be proyided a feeding sprocket 9 having fi m engaging teeth 10 adapted to engage a ertures or perforations substantially central y positioned in the film. This sprocket is mounted on a shaft 12 extending transversely through the frame F and driven in any suitable manner by power applied through the shaft 13. Any preferred intermittent moving mechanism may be mounted in the casing C.

The film may be positioned as within a double or single container or wound loosely upon a reel, and such container or reel may be supported in any desired manner. as upon spindles, not shown, such supporting means being appropriately positioned in regard to the gate andits associated parts. Between such supporting means and the gate, tension control mechanism or feeding sprockets and their associated loops of slack film may be provided, if desired.

Cooperating with the sprocket 9 and normally occupying the position illustated in Figures 1, 7 and 8 in the drawings. is a stripping shield 14 carried by the inner end of a shaft 15 supported in a suitable manner by a bearing 16 constituting part of the fixed gate section 1. Also secured to the shaft 15 is a pinion 17 with which meshes an arcuate rack 18 having a pivotal mounting l9 and. operated simultaneously with the operation of the gate rod 7 by means of a pin 20 projecting outwardly from the gate op ning rod and engaging a slot Si in th (Xifl'lrlfill it? of the arcuate rack. lVith the construction .a tdescribed, movement oi the gate opening rod to the left as viewed in Figure l for the pur pose of opening the relatively 1l7al)lc gate sections. will etfcct rotation of the rack In a counter-clockwise direction viewer. in hr figure. thereby rotating the shield in a clock Wise direction. This rotational *f-Jlll'ltllt of: the shield will be efiective for engaging tl film and stripping the same From the spa; preparatory to the removal of the film from the apparatus. It will remain in this position of the film over the sprocket and an upwardly inclined and curved upper end 25. The frame F also has secured thereto a secondary guide member 26 positioned in spaced relation to the guiding member 23 and adapted to extend substantially in alignment with the inner face of the movable gate section when it has been moved to open position, whereby the film is effectively guided into position between these gate sections. The member :26 has a curved lower end 26 having a function corresponding to that of the curved end ll of the guide member 23. Projecting down wardly from the lower end of the movable gate section is a pair of spaced guide fingers 27 constituting a shoe curved to generally conform to the curvature of the sprocket ii, the space between these fingers being sullicicut to accommodate the teeth 10 of the sprocket. These guides ;-.oopcrato in a manner. as will be readily apparent from the drawings. in permit a film to be positioned between gate members by merely moving the sauw i through the gate. This greatly lessen it time required for threading new film into position, and enables the operation to be performed satisfactorily by an unskilled ator.

In view of the fact that the present apparatus, while notnecessarily limited to any particular field of use, is primarily intended for use by persons unskilled in the art, it is desirable to simplify the control to as great an extent as possible not only for the purpose of rendering the operation easier, but for the purpose of making such operation foolproo i. For this purpose there preferably provided a single control member in the form of a knob or button "38 proi lg upwardly through .a substantially U-s'naped slot29 in the supporting base B This slot is so shaped as to provide a plurality of operating stations those designated as S and S controlling the opera tion of the gate. stripping shield. and shoe. The button s adapted to be moved at will s0 as to or oy ither one of these stations. Yith the con o1 button it station S. the gate is closed, the liiping shield withdrawn from its protccti" i in tlie sprocket. and the shoe in RCA 1 With the respective 2 to ap position o permit. the positioning of a film Ill";

a lever 30 ke'yed or otherwise securedto the' lower end of a gate actuating shaft 31 having its lower end j ournaled in any desired manner in the base B and its upper end journaled in a bearing bracket 32. eing secured to the gate actuating shaft 31 Which is capable only of a turning movement about its longitudinal axis, thelever 30 is restricted in its movements to rotation only. Qarried by the rotating lever 30 is combined sliding and rotating lever 33 having adjacent each end a slot 34 through each of which projects a headed pin 35 by means of which the combined sli ing and rotating lever is effectively mounted on the rotating lever for rotational movement simultaneouslytherewith and sliding movement independently thereof. At itsfront end the lever 33 carries an 11 standing pin 36 having a head 37 against the under side of which bears one endi of a compression spring 38.

' The opposite end of this spring bears against a flange39 extending inwardl from the control button 28. By reason of t isconstruction it will be apparent that the button may be moved vertically on thepin 36 but that the spring 38 will normally be effective for urging the button downwardly. At its lower end the button has a collar 40.01: a diameter to sub- 29 at the respective operating stations. where- I by with the button in its lower position accidental movement-from one of these stations is prevented.

i It may be assumed that it is desired to change a film or to move the parts of the apparatus into such position that a film may be threaded into position therein. Under such circumstances the control button will be moved from station Sto station S. This movement will beefi'ectivefor rotating-the gate actuating shaft 31 in a counter clockwise direction as viewed in Figures 5 and 6. Such rotation of the gate actuating shaft is effective for opening the gate sections of the gate. for so actuating the stripper shield 14 as to effect the desired stripping movement of a film from the sprocket 9 and the shielding of the sprocket to permit the threading of a new film into position, and the movement of the shoe 27 away from the sprocket 9. T hose operations are obtained by securing to the gate actuating shaft a crank lever 41. As is clearlv shown in Figure' l this crank lever has a slot 42 in its free end into which projects a downwardly extendin pin 43 carried by the"gate control rod 7. y reference to the drawlngs, it Willbe evident that the previously mentioned rotation of the actuating shaft '31 will move the lever 41, as viewed in Figure 2,and the gate control rod 7, as viewed inFigure 1 or3, to the left thus separating the gate sections, moving the shield 14 into stripping and shielding position, and

moving the shoe 27 away from the sprocket 9, such parts thereupon occupying the positions shown in Figure 3'.

With the contrary movement of the control button from station S to station S the actuating shaft 31 will be rotated in a contrary direction the control rod 7 moved to the right as viewed in Figures 1 or 3,.theshield 14 will be drawn from protective position, the shoe 27 moved into cooperative relation to the sprocket, and the gate closed.

Thus the movement of the control button from one station to another is effective to open the gate, remove the film from the teeth of the feeding member, and place the parts in such relation that the previously displayed film may be readily removed therefrom by a lateral movement and another film easily and quickly moved between the gate sections and in cooperative position relative to the shoe, the film being protected from the teeth of the sprocket. The movement of the control button from such second mentioned station to such first mentioned station will be effective to withdraw the shield from protective relation to the sprocket, position the film upon the sprocket, and close the gate. v

The construction and location of the gate and sprocket enable these parts tobe easily "removed andother parts substituted for the accommodation of films of different widths. This affords increased flexibility in the use of the apparatus whereby it is not limited to films of any one width.

Throughout the foregoing reference has been made generally to projecting apparatus. The apparatus without change, however,'is capable of use for regular photographic purposes in the taking of pictures. i

Certain advantages of the present invention arise from the provision of an apparatus of'thc general nature herein contemplated having a simplified control, preferably in the form of a single operating member.

Further advantages-of the invention arise from the provision of a construction of such nature that a film may be easily and quickly threaded into operating position without the necessity, of bringing the hands of the operator into contact with the film, or in which a film may be readily removed from the apparatus. 1

Still further advantages arise from the provision of amopenable gate adapted to I descriptionpermit the ready ins rt. reomal of the film and having toopt-rattm: the" ing means or t-ii nature travel ofthe tilm in the tiesiret. 'clllta'tivP merely upon a li dily later-a Xtlt,\'t""=lCrlthereof relative to the noruiti. ctieti of travel of the film ilil't ifjll the gate.

Additionai advantages arise 'l'rmn the provision of ti tripping and 2} :cit' t. hieltb ing means.

I claim:

1. Film handling apparatus, cot mg a toothed feeding: mtmoer and a iielding member mo abie to a pwitioti mbracing a portion of the area of operation-at said ft-etling member. this last mentioned member being effective;- both to remove he tilm bodily from said feeding member and h protect it therefrom.

2. Film handling apparatus including an openahle gate and mechanism etlective to open saidgate, said mechanism comprising a first mem er mounting for add member which prevents the axia tttot'tiaci'it tlic icol' while permitting the rotation thereof, a second member which longitudinally 111OV- able. means connecting said first and second members, anti means to rotati- F first member, whereby the rotation oi J Y rtzl n; ii|- ber causes the longitudinal a merit, of th second inert a-r.

Film handling apparatu means to feed a. film, means lJUilli v a film from said feeding meana mechanism for aid tilnr r na said control mechanism coas -2 it; t'tiiint tricontrol member mounting for said it which prevents the axial imminent ahde, permitting the rotatzor. thwro'i a c-a d member Wl1ltlii--'l( ilf ltltt necting mean i members, and means to rotatt mcm ber. whereby the rotat member causes the longitudinal mo enit at of said second memiw. r.

. In a lilnx handling appa-wzas. it Elli iii-- cluding a ti ection and relatively ta .tio, mean i'or ti ling between salt st iitl'lfn a ll'miztl'l 1 bodily removi [b liilli l means. and mean clltctiv in lilli tl rctat for moving saitiiuovrble section rr-att i said fixed section and said member to both of said sections whereby opened and the films-emitted from said ing means.

5. In a film handl n comprising a tiXcd sect ital. able relatively thereto. tot between said sections. at bodily removing the til. 5'; an

ion m a le tor in .r tilm handling apparatus, an open able gate, toothed means for feeding a film tltcretlir ugh. a member for lJOKl SlE 'QPIROV tug the film from the telh oi said feeding said member being adapted to occupy ,.tt$filli oi positions in one of which it is "it y distant. from the ar of operation ot said t'eeding means \vbctcb engagement. between the teeth thereo't' and i e tilrn is permitted and in another of ninch it embraces such art-a of operation whereby the film protected from the teeth of said feeding means. and control means effective for opening said gate and moving said member to tich protective position.

7. In a film handling apparatus, film carrying means, film feeding means including a sprocket, movable means embracing a substanlial portion of said sprocket and effective for bodily removing the film therefrom, an opcnable gate through which the film travels. and control means effective, for open ing said gate and actuating said means for removing the film.

s. In a lilm handling apparatus, a toothed int-mlttr tor positively feeding a perforated iilm to project or expose the same. means for naming the film into operative contact with ti lt"'ll! of said member, means movable t'zti igh that portion of the path of the lilm whit-ii lies between said last mentioned means and the area of operation of the teeth of said niember and eliective for bodily removing the ilm from the teeth of said mem er. and a common actuating mechanism for both of -aid means.

i in a lilm handling apparatus, a teeding sprocket and a member movable rclatiwly then-to {or bodily removing a film therel'ron. said member embracing a substantial portion ot' said sprocket.

l in a film handling apparatus, a toothed (c ding sprocket, a movable member embracing" a p rtion thereof, and means to more mid member relatively to said sprocket vhereby said member removes a film from the teeth of said sprocket and protects it therefrom when in such removed position.

11. In a film handling apparatus, a fe ding procket and a member for bodily removing a lilm therefrom. said member embracing a 'subst antial portion oi said sprocket and l'ieing lOU til

' through an are which intersects the path through which the film is fed by said means.

14. In a film handling apparatus,.toothed feeding means and a member for bodily removing a film therefrom, said member being movable through the path through which the film is fed by said means and positioned after such movement between the film and the entire area of operation of said means.

15. A film handling apparatus com-prising a feeding sprocket and a movable film engaging member cooperating therewith, said memher being adapted both.to remove the film bodily from said sprocket and to be positioned between the film and the normal area of operation of said sprocket whenthe film is in such removed positionj 16. A film handling apparatus comprising a feeding member and a movable film engaging member cooperating therewith, said member being adapted both to remove the film bodily from said feeding member and to be positioned between the film and the normal" area of operation of said feeding member when the film is in such removed position. 17. In a film handling apparatus, a toothed feeding sprocket-and a member for protecting a film from the teeth ofsaid sprocket, said member embracing a substantial portion of said sprocket and being-movable c0- axially therewith. I

18. In a film handling apparatus, toothed feedingmeans and a member for protecting a film therefrom, said member being movable through an are which intersects the path through which the film, is fed by said means.

19. In a film handling apparatus, toothed means for feeding a film, a member for protecting the film from the teeth of said feed ing means, said member being adapted to occupyia plurality of positions in one of which it is relatively distant from the area of operation of said feeding means whereby engagement between the teeth thereof and the film is permitted and in another of which it embraces such area of operation whereby the film is protected from the teeth of said feeding means, and control means effective for moving said member from one of said position to the other.

20. In a film handling apparatus, toothed means for feeding a film, a member for bodily removing the film from the teeth of said feeding means, said member being adapted to occupy a plurality of positions in one of which itis relatively distant from the area of operation of said feeding means whereby engagement between the teeth thereof and the film is permitted and in another of which it embraces such area of operation whereby the film is protected from the teeth of said feedingmcans. and control means effective for moving said member from one of said positions to the other.

21. In a film handling apparatus, a toothed member for positively feeding a perforated fihn, means ada ted for movement toward the path of the m whereby the film is placed in operative engagement with said member, means adapted for arcuate movement across such path from the opposite side thereof whereby the fihn is bodily removed from said member, and mechanism for operating said means alternately.

22. In' a film handling apparatus, film carrying means, toothed film feeding means, movable means for holding'the film in o rative engagement with the teeth of said feeding means, means movable through that section of the path of the film which lies between the area of operation of said feeding means and said holding means and effective for bodily removing the film from the teeth of said feeding means, and mechanism for operating said holding and removing means alternately.

23. In a film handling apparatus, toothed means for feeding a film, means for moving the film into operative engagement with the teeth of said feeding means, a protective member, said member being adapted to occupy aplurality of positions in the first of which it is situated between the area of operation of said feedin means and said moving means whereby the lm is protected from the teeth of said feeding means and in the second of which it is removed from such position between such area of operation and said moving means whereby the film maybe brought into operative engagement with the teeth of said feeding means, andmechanism adapted to move 'said member from'said first to said second position and to operate said moving means. v

. 24. In a film handling apparatiis, toothed means for feeding a film, means for moving the film into operative engagement with the teeth of said feeding means, a protective member, said member being adapted to occupy a plurality of positions in the first of which it is situated between the area of operation of said feeding means and said moving means whereby the film is protected from the teeth of said feeding means and in the second of which it is removed from such position between such area of operation and said moving means whereby the film may be brought into operative engagement with the teeth of said feeding means, and mechanism adapted to move said member from one of said positions to the other.

25. he film handling apparatus, an openable gate, a toothed member for positively feeding a perforated film through said gate, means for moving the film into operative engagement with the teeth of said member, means movable through that section of the path of the film which lies between said last mentioned means and said member and efi'ec- G matinee member for positively feeding a pert? to. film between said sections, means tor movie; the film into operative engagement with i member. movable means for bodily remo ing: the tilm from such engagement with said member, and control means efi'eetive tirsi for moving said movable section into cooperative relation with said fixed section and said first mentioned means toward the path thmugh which the tilm is fed through said apparatus whereby the gate is closed and the film is placed in operative engagement with said member and thereafter for moving said movable section away from said fixed section and said means for bodily removing the film across that portion of the path of the film which lies between the first mentioned means and said member whereby the gate is opened and the film is removed from such engage ment with said member.

27. In a film handling apparatus. an openable gate, means for feeding a him through said gate, operable means for holding the film in operative engagement with said teeding means, means movable through that por tion of the path of the film Wlll('li lies between said feeding means a d said holding means for bodily removing the din: from said feeding means and ini' chanism for ultimately closing said gate and operating said bottling means and opening sail gate and operating said removing means.

28. In a film handling apparatus, an openab'le gate, means for feedimg a tihn ti ron gh said gate, operable means for bodily renmving the film from said feeding means. and con trol means for opening said gate and operating aid removing means. said removing means being so constructed as: to embrace the area of operation of said feeding means after having been moved to operative position thereby rendering said feed ng means romplet -i inagteessible by the fi m.

2 n a film handling apparatus an openabhwite. means for feedim: a tilmthrongrh sa d cute. and film engaging means movable to a position emb'acin the normal art-a of oration of said feeding means when said gate is opened whereby the film is shielded from said feeding means.

St). in a tilni handling ap 'iaratn a gate eoniprising a plurality of section one of xv it-h is movable relatively to another. to: :1 hedmeans for feeding a tihn lK'l ween sa id Fri dons a member movable to a position ein brat-ing the area of operation ot said feeding means whereby the film is protected from the teeth of said means, and common atiu he county of PRUCTOP. 

